FTSE 250 movers: Wetherspoon dips on profit warning, Workspace buoyed rent rise

15th Jul 2015 14:37

(ShareCast News) - Mid-caps were sluggish on Wednesday, with weakness from electronics and energy stocks balanced by promising performances from the real estate, food retail and financial sectors.As of 15:30 BST, the FTSE 250 was trading flat at 17,627.Shares in Wetherspoon plunged after the company said pre-tax profit was likely to be lower than the year before. The pub operator warned that while sales figures for the full year had increased, cost increases meant pre-tax profit was likely to be down on the previous year.Miners Lonmin, Kaz Minerals and Vedanta Resources were making gains, despite the majority of metals extending losses.Workspace Group was boosted as it said its total rent roll was up 8.9% to £75.6m in an interim statement. Chief executive Jamie Hopkins said the growth was driven by continued high demand from new and growing companies and further uplifts in pricing across the portfolio.Car parts and bike peddler Halfords lost ground in spite of solid first quarter results against tough comparatives thanks to premium bikes, children's car seats and dashboard-cameras. Group sales in the 13 weeks to 3 July were up 3.6% on the equivalent period last year, with retail up 3.4% in spite of less helpful weather and tough comparatives especially in cycling, and autocentres up 5%.Just Eat was on the up as Goldman Sachs reinstated its 'buy' rating on the stock and added the shares to its conviction list, with a 560p price target. It said that in addition to rapid growth potential as more takeaway food is ordered online, network effects and platform scalability should drive strong profitability as established markets mature and losses decline in other markets. RisersRenishaw (RSW) 2,233.00p +3.96%Lonmin (LMI) 80.30p +3.81%Ophir Energy (OPHR) 114.80p +2.96%Telecom Plus (TEP) 1,078.00p +2.86%Kaz Minerals (KAZ) 199.30p +2.73%Just Eat (JE.) 429.00p +2.63%Vedanta Resources (VED) 462.90p +2.39%Victrex plc (VCT) 2,025.00p +2.27%Workspace Group (WKP) 945.50p +2.27%Intermediate Capital Group (ICP) 575.50p +2.22%FallersEntertainment One Limited (ETO) 328.70p -9.42%Wetherspoon (J.D.) (JDW) 715.00p -7.26%Micro Focus International (MCRO) 1,342.00p -6.42%AO World (AO.) 124.10p -6.13%Aldermore Group (ALD) 251.10p -4.74%Tullow Oil (TLW) 282.30p -4.69%Evraz (EVR) 117.70p -4.46%Diploma (DPLM) 788.00p -3.90%PZ Cussons (PZC) 354.70p -3.27%Premier Farnell (PFL) 167.20p -3.18%